If Sen. Cory Booker's new legislation is successful, the United States will be one step closer to legalizing marijuana. Refinery29 has learned that the New Jersey Democrat is introducing the Marijuana Justice Act today, a new bill that would remove cannabis from the U.S. list of controlled substances. This would mean that weed would automatically be legal at the federal level, but states could still decide on the best marijuana policies for them. As of July 2017, 29 states — including Washington, D.C., and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico — have legalized medical marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Cannabis for recreational use is legal in eight states and D.C. "Our country’s drug laws are badly broken and need to be fixed. They don’t make our communities any safer – instead they divert critical resources from fighting violent crimes, tear families apart, unfairly impact low-income communities and communities of color, and waste billions in taxpayer dollars each year," Booker said in a statement provided to Refinery29. The Marijuana Justice Act would also provide federal funds as an incentive to states where marijuana is still illegal, states with a record of disproportionately arresting or incarcerating low-income folks and people of color for weed-related offenses, as a way of encouraging them to change their laws. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Black Americans are about 3.7 times more likely than white Americans to be arrested for marijuana-related offenses, even though both groups use cannabis at roughly equal rates. And in some states and counties, that disparity is great: Black Americans are 8, 10, or 15 times more likely to be arrested in some areas. Booker's proposed legislation seeks to change the consequences of this imbalance as well: It would expunge crimes at the federal level related to the use and possession of marijuana; allow those currently serving time in federal prison for marijuana-related crimes to ask the court for a re-sentencing; and create a reinvestment fund to help communities impacted by the War on Drugs, while funding programs such as job training, health education, youth opportunities, and reentry services. "Descheduling marijuana and applying that change retroactively to people currently serving time for marijuana offenses is a necessary step in correcting this unjust system," Booker said. "States have so far led the way in reforming our criminal justice system and it’s about time the federal government catches up and begins to assert leadership." If Sen. Cory Booker's new legislation is successful, the United States will be one step closer to legalizing marijuana. Refinery29 has learned that the New Jersey Democrat is introducing the Marijuana Justice Act today, a new bill that would remove cannabis from the U.S. list of controlled substances. This would mean that weed would automatically be legal at the federal level, but states could still decide on the best marijuana policies for them. As of July 2017, 29 states — including Washington, D.C., and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico — have legalized medical marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Cannabis for recreational use is legal in eight states and D.C. "Our country’s drug laws are badly broken and need to be fixed. They don’t make our communities any safer – instead they divert critical resources from fighting violent crimes, tear families apart, unfairly impact low-income communities and communities of color, and waste billions in taxpayer dollars each year," Booker said in a statement provided to Refinery29. The Marijuana Justice Act would also provide federal funds as an incentive to states where marijuana is still illegal, states with a record of disproportionately arresting or incarcerating low-income folks and people of color for weed-related offenses, as a way of encouraging them to change their laws. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Black Americans are about 3.7 times more likely than white Americans to be arrested for marijuana-related offenses, even though both groups use cannabis at roughly equal rates. And in some states and counties, that disparity is great: Black Americans are 8, 10, or 15 times more likely to be arrested in some areas. Booker's proposed legislation seeks to change the consequences of this imbalance as well: It would expunge crimes at the federal level related to the use and possession of marijuana; allow those currently serving time in federal prison for marijuana-related crimes to ask the court for a re-sentencing; and create a reinvestment fund to help communities impacted by the War on Drugs, while funding programs such as job training, health education, youth opportunities, and reentry services. "Descheduling marijuana and applying that change retroactively to people currently serving time for marijuana offenses is a necessary step in correcting this unjust system," Booker said. "States have so far led the way in reforming our criminal justice system and it’s about time the federal government catches up and begins to assert leadership." But the bill faces a difficult road ahead: Attorney General Jeff Sessions strongly opposes the legalization of cannabis. In the past, Sessions asked Congress to undo the policies that provide protections to the medical marijuana industry so he can crack down on providers. Though the Republican-controlled Congress has softened its stance on the use of medical marijuana, it has yet to signal that it would allow cannabis to be removed from the list of controlled substances. Nevertheless, the Marijuana Justice Act represents a step forward for the legalization of marijuana in the country. If it ends up becoming law, the U.S. will join a growing list of countries that have either legalized or decriminalized cannabis. http://www.refinery29.com/2017/08/165936/new-marijuana-legalization-bill-cory-booker
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The forthcoming legalization of cannabis is Canada has prompted the public health community to develop practical strategies to reduce health risks associated with cannabis use. An important article in the August 2017 edition of the American Journal of Public Health presents “Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines”(LRCUG) developed by Benedikt Fischer, Cayley Russell and several additional colleagues. The authors observe that “Prohibition of recreational cannabis use has long been the dominant policy model, yet it has been increasingly recognized as ineffective.” While the public health problems associated with cannabis are “clearly smaller than for alcohol, tobacco and other illicit drugs, it is associated with risks for various adverse health outcomes.” Readers are cautioned, though, that while there studies associating cannabis use with adverse effects “causality is not established for all of these.” Nonetheless, the authors are concerned about strong evidence associating cannabis use with a variety of health problems including cognitive impairment, car accidents, brain development, dependence and psychosis, heart and lung problems, as well as poor pregnancy outcomes. Of great interest, though, is that many of these harms, or their severity, can be influenced by behavior. The choices cannabis users make—the way they use the drug—can be modified to reduce potential harms associated with cannabis use. Thus, “Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG) may be a worthwhile public health intervention for cannabis, particularly following legalization of use.” The authors conducted an extensive and systematic analysis of peer-reviewed research articles to produce the 10 guidelines below, all of which are based on reliable scientific evidence. They note that in some areas, the evidence is “relatively thin” and that “better studies and data are urgently needed.” Fischer and his colleagues also acknowledge that cannabis users are a diverse population, and that use-related risk factors are influenced by other factors, such as genetic profiles, co-behaviors and social/environmental factors. However, the driving force behind producing these guidelines and refining them in the future is that “one of the distinct advantages of legalization is that it allows open and direct information of users on risk behaviors, product properties, and more with the aim of reducing harmful outcomes from use.” This is a giant step forward, a significant departure from prohibition and criminalization. More important, this is not only recognition that harm reduction is a promising public health paradigm to apply to cannabis use but an example of leadership from the public health community with respect to dismantling prohibition. Here are the 10 recommended guidelines to lower the risk of cannabis use: (1) The most effective way to avoid cannabis use–related health risks is abstinence, (2) Avoid early age initiation of cannabis use (i.e., definitively before the age of 16 years), (3) Choose low-potency tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or balanced THC-to-cannabidiol (CBD)–ratio cannabis products, (4) Abstain from using synthetic cannabinoids, (5) Avoid combusted cannabis inhalation and give preference to nonsmoking use methods, (6) Avoid deep or other risky inhalation practices, (7) Avoid high-frequency (e.g., daily or near-daily) cannabis use, (8) Abstain from cannabis-impaired driving, (9) Populations at higher risk for cannabis use–related health problems should avoid use altogether, and (10) Avoid combining previously mentioned risk behaviors (e.g., early initiation and high-frequency use). The reasoning behind many of these recommendations is clear. When it comes to the first one, the point the authors emphasize is that “Those who decide to use need to recognize that they incur risks of a variety of—acute and long-term—adverse health and social outcomes.” The risks vary and are not the same for every user or every situation. It has also been long-established that individuals who begin cannabis use are less likely to abuse the drug then those who begin use in their early teenage years. The potency issue is also easy to understand, especially given the longstanding recognition among many cannabis users that “less is more” (and there are benefits to regulating tolerance to the effects of cannabis through moderate use). It is a new development, though, for the value of CBD:THC ratios to be recognized. So-called “synthetic cannabinoids” are not cannabinoids at all, and their dangerous effects have received a lot of attention in the cannabis community. Unfortunately, because of the name used to promote them they need to be mentioned in this context. The benefits of vaporizers have become widely known and popular among cannabis users. The deep inhalation issue deserves more attention in that cannabis users should be educated that this increases their absorption of carbon monoxide. Frequency of use will always be an issue of contention between public health experts and cannabis users. From the perspective of the public health community, the logic of this recommendation and the evidence to back it up is clear. If something presents risks, the more it is used, the greater the risks involved. Which leads to the driving issue. Many cannabis users are safe drivers, but from a public health perspective, something that creates impairment is incompatible with safe driving. This is especially important with new cannabis users or those with low tolerance. Recommendation #9 requires elaboration. “There are some populations at probable higher risk for cannabis-related adverse effects who should refrain from using cannabis. These include individuals with predisposition for, or a first-degree family history of, psychosis and substance use disorders, as well as pregnant women (primarily to avoid adverse effects on the fetus or newborn). These recommendations, in part, are based on precautionary principles.” Finally, the last recommendation simply recognizes that any combination of these issues magnifies the potential risk associated with them individually. In most if not all cases, heavy consumption of high-potency cannabis is not compatible with safe driving. http://hightimes.com/culture/pot-matters-new-harm-reduction-guidelines-for-cannabis-and-public-health/ The future of cannabis in America hangs in limbo, much like the career of reefer madness 2.0 proponent Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Now, as he and President Trump fuel headlines, the question many cannabis patients are left asking is, “What will happen next?” In the lead up to the 2016 presidential election, many in and out of the marijuana circle believed that Donald Trump might be the best candidate for legalization. Despite the fears and concerns they may have had otherwise, they believed Trump could be the flag bearer for cannabis legalization. In March 2016, Merry Jane wrote that “Regardless of my inner struggle with accepting the impending reality of Trump as the 45th POTUS and The Running Man neo-cyberpunk society that will emerge, there’s one existential fact that remains. If you want marijuana legalized, Donald Trump is your best option this November.” Motley Fool and others cited Trump’s approach to states determining marijuana legalization, much like the Obama administration had done previously. Their belief was backed by a C+ grade the Marijuana Policy Project gave then-candidate Trump. While seemingly a favorable grade, Trump came in last of the four major candidates. Hillary Clinton received a B+ while Gary Johnson and Dr. Jill Stein received A+ scores. In retrospect, Trump’s C+, to date, served as an indicator or Trump’s overall approach to politics: no one is quite sure what will happen. That is, until this week’s reports that could serve as a significant setback to marijuana in America. President Trump’s Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety is expected to release a report next week that pegs marijuana as a driver of violent crime. The findings led by the task force will serve as its basis for stricter sentences for those growing, selling and smoking cannabis. Should the reports prove true, that still may not certify a step back. Depending on public feedback, President Trump may or may not follow through with the measures. In past instances, the President’s views on cybersecurity, the Muslim travel ban, and other topics have shifted after public pushback. However, that does not mean the same for marijuana. Several factors could ultimately sway how cannabis gets classified under the Trump administration. Jeff Sessions’ Antiquated ViewsBefore becoming one of Donald Trump’s earliest supporters in Senate, most in Capitol Hill circles saw Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions as a minimal player. Sessions wasn’t known for creating legislation that could carry and impact government. That all changed when Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States. Now as Attorney General, the once outside GOP lawmaker can now follow through on some of his more controversial views. That’s why marijuana supporters cringed when Trump announced his Department of Justice appointment. Though, other options like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani likely would have gone down similar paths. However, it is Sessions who stands out as the staunchest of opponents to marijuana on any level. Since assuming leaving Senate to head up United States’ justice, Sessions has remained steadfast in his views, regardless of those that oppose him. The most significant stance AG Sessions took since assuming his new role has been on the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment. The amendment that has been in effect since 2014 prohibits the DOJ from using federal funds to prevent states that choose to participate in authorized distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana. Before this past April’s extension of the protections, AG Sessions urged lawmakers to not renew the protections. Doing so would be “unwise” according to the Attorney General. In his note, he expanded on his views. “I believe it would be unwise for Congress to restrict the discretion of the Department to fund particular prosecutions,” explained Attorney General Sessions. “…Particularly in the midst of an historic drug epidemic and potentially long-term uptick in violent crime. The Department must be in a position to use all laws available to combat the transnational drug organizations and dangerous drug traffickers who threaten American lives.” For many, the most alarming point from Sessions’ note was the “historic drug epidemic.” Today, bipartisan support for a cure to America’s crippling drug problem is evident. However, the support is for the country’s opioid epidemic, not cannabis. This first raised concerns within the scientific community. One expert, W. David Bradford, a health policy expert at The University of Georgia who studies medical marijuana policies told Scientific American that a failure to renew protections “would throw a lot of uncertainty into the [medical cannabis]industry and cause disruption for patients.” He added that medical marijuana can divert opioid users from using their deadlier drug of habit – and that the removal of restrictions could kill addicts otherwise. Sessions’ views are, however, nothing new. If the current President’s views can be labeled “flip-flopping,” then Attorney General’s is definitely consistent. It was in the 1980s when Sessions was noted for only thinking less of the Ku Klux Klan once he discovered they smoked marijuana. Recently, he was quoted saying that, “Good people don’t smoke marijuana.” Additionally, Sessions recently spoke about his hopes to bring the D.A.R.E. program back to America’s classrooms. He recently told the Drug Abuse Resistance Education training conference in North Texas that, “D.A.R.E. is, I think, as I indicated, the best remembered anti-drug program today,” Sessions said. “In recent years, people have not paid much attention to that message, but they are ready to hear it again.” If true, Sessions may be furthering America’s drug problem more than marijuana. Studies show a 29 percent increase in drug use and 34 percent increase in tobacco use. Meanwhile, those who completed D.A.R.E. were no less likely to smoke cannabis or tobacco, drink alcohol, use illicit drugs, or succumb to peer pressure than their non-D.A.R.E. peers. Dual Party OppositionSessions’ views are not only in contrast to the marijuana industry’s. He’s also in conflict with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. New Jersey Democrat Senator Cory Booker and Kentucky Republican Rand Paul are on record to stand up to any rollbacks for a variety of reasons. Booker cited the potential to create more violence and government cost from harsher marijuana policies. Senator Paul, meanwhile, slammed the Attorney General’s May reversal of harsh sentencing of low-level drug offenders. Paul focused on the injustice stemming from the AG’s reinvigoration of the famed and failed Reagan-era War on Drugs campaign. He zeroed in on an American Civil Liberties Union report that found that black Americans were four to fives times more likely to be convicted for drug crimes despite equal usage rates among black and white Americans. Instead of the crackdown, Paul offered his bipartisan bill with Vermont Democrat Senator Patrick Leahy as an alternative. In their bill, federal judges could opt to impose sentences below the mandated minimum for lower crimes. “Each case should be judged on its own merits. Mandatory minimums prevent this from happening,” explained Senator Paul. Additional bipartisan efforts for marijuana protections should come from the Congressional Cannabis Caucus. Riding the trend of pet issue groups in Congress, the CCC was formed in 2017 and consists of four members: Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Don Young (R-CO), and Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO). Furthermore, with tax revenue indicating a massive benefit for marijuana in states, it will be interesting to see just how far Sessions’ views could become reality. The fact is, no one can say what definite effect months or years of cannabis use has on the brain, as there just isn’t enough research out there to say for sure. Moreover, the human brain (or indeed any type of brain) is incredibly complex, and there are all sorts of stimuli that will affect its development over the course of its life. Whether or not a person uses marijuana is just one small piece of the puzzle. Marijuana definitely has an effect on the brain in the short-term, but determining the long-term effects of regular consumption will be difficult to tell, especially as it’s still federally illegal and therefore difficult to study properly. When we mention the “developing brain”, most people think of the teenage years. Yet, in reality, the brain is in constant development, and can be roughly broken down into five main ages. We shall use these five ages to break down marijuana’s effects on the brain throughout all the brain’s development stages … Gestation The brain develops within 3 weeks of conception. In the third week, the neural plate is formed, and by the fourth week the neural plate widens to form the cephalic (the concentration of nervous tissue) end that forms the head of the baby. By the fifth week, the basic structure of fore, mid and hindbrain is developed. By 9 months, the baby has 100 billion brain cells and millions of support cells. We know that alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy has a negative effect on prenatal brain development. But what about exposure to cannabis? Marijuana use during pregnancy shows weak links between fetal cannabis exposure and congenital anomalies or preterm delivery. There is no evidence that cannabis has similar effects as fetal alcohol syndrome, although there have been some reports. Cannabis use does not seem to be associated with low birth weight or preterm birth. However, this is not to say there aren’t any negatives to cannabis use whilst pregnant. Cannabis exposure affects fetal growth trajectories, learning development and memory impairment in exposed offspring. Post-birth, studies so far show that there is some correlation between neonatal marijuana exposure and behavior. Prenatal marijuana exposure was associated with increased tremors and startles, and poorer habituation to visual stimuli. Though there aren’t a huge number of studies on prenatal cannabis exposure, it is fair to say that so far the evidence shows that cannabis use during pregnancy is negative. However, the research mostly focuses on THC and generalized cannabis use, not non-psychoactive cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD). In fact, CBD may be helpful to help ease the pain and stress of childbirth, and studies on mice have shown no effects with regards to prenatal CBD exposure. Childhood This is when the human brain is at its most “plastic” and flexible. Though learning, memory and language begin before we are born, this is when connections are made and broken fastest. Though there aren’t huge numbers of studies on exposure to marijuana during childhood and its effects, it does seem that marijuana metabolites can be found in children exposed to marijuana smoke. The precise effects secondhand marijuana smoke has on children is not yet known, but some doctors and scientists believe that exposing children to secondhand marijuana smoke is generally best avoided. However, when it comes to cannabis and children, we have a tendency to be a little “typical minded”. What about all those sick kids – the ones suffering from cancer, autism or epilepsy? The fact is, we give sick children immensely harmful medications like antipsychotics without considering their long-term effects, whereas cannabis could well be a much safer alternative. Why do we not look at the brain changes caused by prescription medications in children as well as cannabis? (Well, we do, but it’s not reported in the media all too often.) Whilst it could easily be argued that cannabis isn’t ideal for children, this isn’t to say that it doesn’t have its place as a potentially very effective pediatric medicine. Yes, there are elements of the cannabis plant that could potentially be somewhat “neurotoxic” to children, but there are are huge therapeutic opportunities, too – ones that we really ought not to avoid. Longitudinal studies are also needed in order to see how having consistent cannabinoid concentrations affect children using cannabis for medical purposes. Adolescence This is the age people most often think of when they say “cannabis isn’t good for the developing brain.” Why the focus on the teenage years, though? Perhaps it’s because that’s when many people experiment with cannabis. There is also the image of a slightly malcontent youth who finds solace among a peer group of “alternatively-minded” people who use cannabis – an image that has some validity for many people, we might say! There’s also the hormones, and the fact that myelination and “synaptic pruning” start occurring during the teenage years However, the effects of cannabis on the adolescent brain are not entirely known, and there are all sorts of mixed results. For example, for those suffering from Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), early initiation of cannabis use was linked with poor cognitive outcomes when patients were under 16. However, for ADHD sufferers who started to use cannabis regularly after the age of 16, marijuana did not aggravate long standing cognitive defects. There is also no known association between IQ loss and adolescent cannabis use. As it stands, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug used by adolescents. Adolescence is also the time when CB1 receptors are said to proliferate in the human brain, and disturbing this pattern with cannabis use may have deleterious effects. Early cannabis use by young teenagers may have neurodevelopmental effects, but later use by older teenagers/young adults may have less problematic effects. This is because CB1 receptors are fully formed, and excess neurons are trimmed down. For this reason, it is perhaps best for anyone under the age of 21 who doesn’t need marijuana for medical reasons to avoid it! The age restrictions as they stand may be a little rough and arbitrary, but could be useful. Adulthood This is when you’ll be stuck with your brain for quite some time. Or, so it is easy to think. Apparently, the peak of our brain’s powers come at the age of 22, and lasts until the late 20s/early 30s, when cognitive decline starts to settle in. This is where marijuana science starts to get interesting. Where cannabis may debilitate brain development in the young, it might actually be an aid for brain development! This is a process known as “neurogenesis” (aka “hippocampal neurogenesis”), meaning the growing of new brain cells. How does this work? Well, the theory is that flooding the brain with phytocannabinoids prevents synapses from being lost, and can even help develop new synapses in the brain to develop in order to “catch” all the phytocannabinoids. Research so far suggests that cannabis can help the proliferation – but not differentiation – of neurons in the brain. Hippocampal neurogenesis produces anxiolytic- and antidepressant- like effects. So yes, this means that, if one were to start using cannabis, it is best to do it in adulthood, preferably after the age of 21. This is when people are most likely to get the most advantage of marijuana for wellness at this age. There is also no evidence to suggest that daily marijuana use amongst adults causes brain abnormalities. Seniority This is arguably when cannabis has most therapeutic use for people. This is the age when most people start to develop illnesses and diseases. Arthritis, glaucoma and various neurodegenerative diseases are more commonplace in old age, as are the chances of developing cancer and various other conditions. At this stage in life, people start to lose brain cells in areas like the hippocampus – the area where memories are stored. This is one of the reasons why so many people start to forget names and plenty of other things when they start to get older. Also, as we’ve mentioned above under “Adulthood”, marijuana can help promote neurogenesis, and therefore can maybe even halt memory loss. Recent studies on older mice suggest that low-doses of THC boosts memory and learning. The implications of this are huge, as it means that cannabis may help stave off dementia and prevent memory loss in those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. CBD may also have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective effects, making it an excellent medication for stroke/traumatic brain injury victims. The neuroprotective abilities of CBD also makes cannabis great for other degenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and the like as well. Moreover, the fact that cannabis can be used for many conditions (arthritis, depression and lots more) means that it can be used to reduce or replace lots of other pills that have nasty side-effects. Conclusion Though there is no definitive evidence suggesting that cannabis affects brain development, it is fair to say with the evidence we do have that whether or not cannabis affects the brain’s development depends on the age of the user. For young people under the age of 18/21, non-medical use may be best avoided, whereas for those aged over 21, getting themselves a medical marijuana card could very well be a benefit to one’s health and wellness. There also needs to be more study on how specific cannabinoids help or hinder the brain, and many of the studies that look at marijuana’s effect on the developing brain forget to control for tobacco, alcohol and drug use whether licit or illicit. This can have huge impacts on the studies, and may sometimes lead us to erroneous conclusions. In the meantime, we will say that, for most adults, cannabis will not likely cause massive changes in the brain. For children and adolescents, this could be very different. If your image of a marijuana dispensary is, say, a smoke-filled room adorned with Grateful Dead posters and jars of musky buds named “Banana Kush” and “Hawaiian Haze,” you may be disappointed by Florida’s version. The first thing you notice walking into Trulieve dispensary in Tampa is the absence of any actual marijuana, or, at least, the kind that traditionally fills rolling papers, pipes and three-foot bongs shaped like chemistry beakers. Trulieve is located off Dale Mabry Highway in a white, wood-framed building that looks like a dental or insurance office. After being admitted through a locked door from the waiting area, patients are greeted by a bright, antiseptic room featuring a row of consultation offices and display cases filled with vaping devices and bottles of pills and ointments. “We’re a medical facility,” says Victoria Walker, head of community relations. “No black lights, no Bob Marley.” Blame that on Florida’s new marijuana law. In the fall of 2016, 71.3 percent of voters approved a constitutional amendment expanding medical marijuana, making Florida among 30 states that have legalized pot for either recreational or medical use. But the Legislature grappled for months over how to enact the wishes of voters. It took a special session in June to finally pass rules that include barring the sale of flowers, buds or any other part of the plant that can be smoked. Trulieve is one of 17 state-approved dispensaries, each allowed to operate 25 retail stores. Trulieve’s Tampa and Clearwater stores were the closest to Sarasota until late July when it was scheduled to open a dispensary in Bradenton. Many patients are in their 60s and 70s, Walker says, which is why Trulieve is also opening a dispensary in The Villages retirement community near Orlando. Under the law, operators such as Trulieve not only dispense the marijuana, they also are responsible for growing and processing it. Trulieve, which already has 7,000 patients, owns grow rooms near Tallahassee. The pot is distilled into pills or oils that can be vaped, rubbed on the skin or dispensed in droplets under the tongue. In June, the Legislature expanded the rules to include edibles, albeit with conditions that have given dispensaries like Trulieve pause. “We’re still figuring out how we’re going to do edibles because the product cannot look like anything that could attract children, like a gummy bear,” Walker says. Justin Strekal, political director for NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), contends that Florida legislators “wanted to pat themselves on the back” over how restrictive they could be. Not only did the state prohibit smoking, the Legislature also has tighter restrictions than most states on who can qualify to get marijuana. There are about a dozen conditions lawmakers approved, including AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, glaucoma and post-traumatic stress disorder. (The Florida law does list one criterion—“Chronic, Non-malignant pain”—that may allow doctors to prescribe pot for anxiety, migraines and other afflictions.) “Florida is near the bottom of giving people what they actually voted for,” Strekal says. The Legislature did lessen some restrictions, eliminating the 90-day waiting period for patients to qualify and reducing the amount of training required by doctors from eight to two hours. They also increased the number of companies that can distribute the drug from seven to 17. As of late June, nearly 20,000 patients and almost 900 doctors had registered in Florida. Whatever critics say about the law, Walker says it is already achieving its main goal of relieving pain and improving the conditions of patients with serious medical problems. “We’re hearing from people who are no longer having seizures, patients whose tumors have gone into remissions,” says Walker. Medical marijuana is also going to play a big role in bringing down the opioid epidemic because it is a safe, natural way to control pain.” THC is to marijuana what alcohol is to booze, and doctors are authorized to prescribe a variety of potencies. A typical joint might have 12 percent THC, Walker says. Trulieve offers products with up to 85 percent THC, which are for cancer patients and others who are in severe pain. Dr. Christopher Newcomb, an internal medicine specialist in Sarasota, says he is “very disappointed” with how the state has enacted Amendment 2, saying the rules have been confusing and the state has ceded too much control to the Department of Health. Newcomb also says the prohibition on smoking the drug was unwarranted, adding that, in some cases smoking makes sense medically. Despite his reservations, however, Newcomb predicts that the legalization of “medical cannabis”— he prefers not to call it pot or marijuana—will have vast benefits for Floridians. “I am so tired of the opioid poisoning,” Newcomb says. “Medical cannabis is far preferable in many cases. I was in a traumatic car accident four years ago. I infinitely would have preferred medical cannabis for the pain instead of opioids, but that was not an option.” Doctors rather than legislators should be making medical decisions, he says. “Obviously, we’re not going to be giving it to the 19-year-old kid who wants weed because he says he hurt his knee playing basketball,” says Newcomb. “Doctors need the discretion to act in the best interests of their patients.” Newcomb says, the legalization will promote research about a drug that has been understudied and stigmatized. Under the new law, doctors are required to submit patients’ charts to the Department of Health, which will allow experts to study marijuana’s effect on patients suffering from ALS, cancer, glaucoma and other diseases. “Florida is going to be at the forefront of research,” Newcomb says. “That’s one of the best things to come out of this.” https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/articles/2017/7/26/florida-marijuana Jeff Sessions is not having an easy ride at the moment. The attorney general’s boss, President Donald Trump, threw Sessions under the bus in a recent interview with the New York Times, saying that he would never have appointed him if he’d known that Sessions would recuse himself from the Russia investigation. Then again on Monday, Trump referred to Sessions as “beleaguered” and wondered why he wasn’t investigating purported ties between Hillary Clinton and Russia. But elsewhere, the attorney general is facing a tougher opponent: Former New York Jets defensive end Marvin Washington. The former NFL star, who measures 1.98 meters and weighs 285 lbs, is one of five plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against Sessions, the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Agency, the New York Post reported Monday. The Manhattan lawsuit targets the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, which established federal drug policy and delineated narcotics into different schedules. Under the legislation, marijuana is considered a Schedule I controlled substance—along with other drugs such as heroin and ecstasy—and is subjected to the tightest restrictions. Schedule I substances are listed as those with a high potential for abuse and with no accepted medical use in the United States. Other drugs, such as cocaine and morphine, are classified as Schedule II drugs, which have a high potential for abuse but are acceptable for medical use in some cases with restrictions. “Classifying cannabis as a ‘Schedule I drug’ is so irrational that it violates the U.S. Constitution,” the lawsuit said. Washington has joined the lawsuit because the current legislation prevents him from obtaining federal grants to start a business aimed at professional football players who want to use medical marijuana to manage pain, the Post reported. Other plaintiffs include an 11-year-old boy, Alexis Bortell, who requires medical marijuana to control his epilepsy, and a disabled military veteran, Jose Belen, who uses it to control post traumatic stress syndrome. Several U.S. states have loosened laws prohibiting marijuana use in recent years, and the use of marijuana for medical purposes is now legal in 29 states and Washington DC. Under former president Barack Obama, the federal government did not seek to block state legislatures from legalizing or decriminalizing the drug. Since coming to office, Sessions has taken a hard line on marijuana users. The attorney general asked congressional leaders to remove federal protections that stopped the DOJ from interfering with medical marijuana enterprises that operated in accordance with state law. A new DOJ report to be published this week by the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety—led by Sessions—is expected to link marijuana to violent crime and advocate tougher sentences on users, producers and sellers of the drug. http://www.newsweek.com/jeff-sessions-medical-marijuana-marvin-washington-641446 Cannabis lotions, creams or other topicals are available for purchase at many legal medical marijuana dispensaries in the state of Florida. There are also certain CBD based products made from hemp that are already legal throughout the country and are available for purchase without a medical marijuana card and can be offered in stores that are not certified by the state. It is important to research any cannabis or hemp based product before using it and certainly talk to your doctor about whether THC lotions are right for you. One of the significant concerns in Florida about legalized medical marijuana is that employers can still discriminate against employees that test positive for drug tests for THC even if that employee is a legal Florida medical marijuana card holder. Anyone that has already received their medical marijuana card or is considering getting one should clearly understand their employers polices towards marijuana and drug testing. A topical lotion to sooth pain may seem very different than the inhalation of marijuana concentrated extract vapor or consuming an edible, however the question still remains as to whether the application of a cannabis lotion could result in a positive drug test. Could a Florida resident with their medical marijuana card lose their job simply for applying a marijuana based cream? First things first. For those unfamiliar, topicals refer to a wide range of cannabis-infused products. They come in an array of forms — lotions, salves, balms, ointments and sprays — and are applied to the skin to provide a localized effect. Topical use is typically not intoxicating, and rather is considered therapeutic, such as massages with cannabis lotions. Is there a risk of THC absorbing through the skin and causing a positive result in a marijuana drug test? “Most likely the answer is no,” said Paul Armentano of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. “THC is lipid soluble so one would expect very little THC to enter the bloodstream via transdermal delivery,” Armentano told The Cannabist via email. He is deputy director of NORML and recipient of the Alfred R. Lindesmith Award for Achievement in the Field of Scholarship and author of numerous articles on drug testing. To get more information on topicals and the bloodstream, I reached out to Dahlia Mertens, CEO of Mary Jane’s Medicinals, a Colorado company making topicals in Telluride since 2010. “The cannabinoids in topicals do not actually enter the bloodstream (that is why topicals do not get you high), instead they interact with the peripheral nervous system,” Mertens said in an email. “As a result, people that use our topicals have not tested positive for THC in drug tests.” So, in Merten’s business experience, none of her customers have tested positive in a drug test from her topical products. However, the makers of some topical products, like the transdermal THC patches from Colorado-based Mary’s Medicinals assert the product is delivered directly to the bloodstream. Could the transdermal THC patches cause a positive drug test? To get more information, I contacted analytical chemist Noel Palmer, former chief scientist at Mary’s Medicinals. He is currently chief scientist at Colorado extracts company Evolab and recipient of the 2014 Americans For Safe Access 2014 Researcher of the Year award. (Disclosure: I also worked for Mary’s Medicinals in 2015, but am no longer affiliated with the company.) Palmer says via email: “THC alone and by itself will not permeate through the skin into the bloodstream, just as most drugs won’t. The skin is designed to keep things out, and it does a really good job at doing this.” http://floridamedcard.com/cannabis-lotions-can-test-positive-employer-drug-tests-topicals/ Patients and families have to find a manufacturer willing to ship products or travel to another state where the oil is made and risk being caught breaking the law as they return home. ATLANTA — More than 100 new patients have received permission to use a form of medical marijuana in Georgia this month, bringing the statewide total of people using the product to more than 1800 less than three years after the state began the program. They still don’t have easy access to the drug, which can’t legally be produced in Georgia or brought across state lines under federal law. Instead, patients and families have to find a manufacturer willing to ship products or travel to another state where the oil is made and risk being caught breaking the law as they return home. Even more people have registered as “caregivers,” a separate category in state records that includes parents or others caring for children or others who can’t manage their own medication and may not have a state-issued card to possess the oil. Since May 9 when the latest expansion law took effect, 185 people registered as caregivers bringing the statewide total to 2,248. People on the registry have to show a doctor’s approval and receive a card as proof they’re allowed to possess the oil containing a low amount of THC, the chemical responsible for the marijuana high, to treat eligible conditions. After weeks of debate this year, Georgia lawmakers added six diseases to that list: Tourette’s syndrome, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS, nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy and a painful skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa. Since the law took effect May 9, new patients listed the condition peripheral neuropathy most often. The law required that the disease, nerve damage that can cause pain, numbness and tingling, must be considered “severe or end stage” to qualify for the registry. According to figures from the Department of Public Health, 23 people listed nerve damage, followed by 21 with seizure disorders, 19 with cancer, 18 with multiple sclerosis and 13 with autism. Other new conditions include 3 people diagnosed with Tourette’s, and 3 with epidermolysis bullosa. So far, no patients have listed AIDS or Alzheimer’s disease. Rep. Allen Peake, a Republican who authored Georgia’s legislation, said the steady number of sign-ups is more reason for the state to allow production of medical marijuana products. Peake revealed recently that he plays a key role in helping some Georgians get cannabis oil. Each month he receives different types of cannabis oil at his Macon office and provides it to people around the state. Federal law bars transporting marijuana, a Schedule I narcotic, across the state lines. Peake says he doesn’t bring the oil in himself and doesn’t ask how it gets to his door. The process puts him in a legal gray area but he said appreciation from patients or their family members makes it worthwhile. “It’s what continues to push us to take the risk because it’s having such an incredible impact on folks’ lives,” he said. Jennifer Conforti registered two days after Georgia’s governor signed the expansion into law on May 9. She began giving her daughter, who is autistic, cannabis oil more than two years ago when nothing else addressed the girl’s “rages,” including screams and Abby biting her own arms. Abby, now 6, doesn’t try to hurt herself anymore and has begun eating whole foods rather than pureed items. She’s learning to eat with a spoon and knows to pull her dad’s hands to her stomach when she wants to be tickled. Conforti lightly said that she got used to breaking the law to get the oil, but she describes receiving the registry card as a “bittersweet” moment. “The bitter part is the fact that we are not anywhere close to where we need to be, which is cultivation and distribution,” she said. “Until we have it readily available for people here, what’s the point?” She and other advocates plan to keep pushing for that in Georgia. Brian Underwood’s 3-year-old son, Reid, is the reason epidermolysis bullosa is eligible in Georgia. Reid lacked a protein in his skin at birth, leaving him susceptible to painful tears and blisters all over his body that heal slowly. He wears white bandages wrapped around his arms and legs to prevent damage, but even certain types of food can tear the skin of his mouth. Getting a registry card doesn’t make it any easier to get the two varieties of oil and a skin cream they began using several years ago with approval from Reid’s doctor. “It’s just ludicrous that it’s illegal to get,” Brian Underwood said. “We’re glad the card gives us protection here. But that’s not the hard part.” Oviedo City Council members this week agreed to let the city’s moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries expire Aug. 5, making it likely that Oviedo will become the first Seminole County municipality to allow such businesses. Council members also directed city staffers Monday to draft an ordinance that will treat medical marijuana dispensaries under the same zoning regulations as pharmacies. Pharmacies in Oviedo are allowed to operate only in certain office and commercial zoning districts, which are mostly located along major thoroughfares. Council members are expected to vote on a new ordinance in the coming weeks to allow pharmacies and medical marijuana dispensaries to operate only in certain commercial zoning districts, but not in zoning districts for offices. “This could be a drug that helps people with certain debilitating illnesses, and who are we stand in the way,” Mayor Dominic Persampiere said. In November, 71 percent of Florida voters approved a state constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana. The Legislature, however, later enacted new rules that give local governments the choice of either banning medical marijuana retail outlets or regulating them exactly the same as pharmacies. Council member Steve Henken pointed out that on average, about 70 percent of Oviedo voters voted in favor the constitutional amendment. “Those are the city of Oviedo residents speaking at the ballot box,” he said. “When the people speak, I’m going to listen. … And this might help some folks who are sick.” Steve Edmonds was among several Oviedo residents who spoke in favor of letting the moratorium expire and said the government “should get out of the way” regarding medical marijuana dispensaries. Oviedo had put in place its 180-day moratorium on medical marijuana facilities Feb. 6. Elsewhere in Central Florida, Orange County commissioners Tuesday asked attorneys to look into both options — either a total ban or allowing dispensaries — before they make a final decision on dispensaries in unincorporated areas in the county. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/seminole/os-oviedo-marijuana-dispensaries-20170718-story.html Uruguay has become the first country in the world to legally sell marijuana for recreational use. Sixteen pharmacies started dispensing marijuana on Wednesday, Almost 5,000 people have signed up to a national registry to be able to buy marijuana legally. They will be able to buy up to 10g (0.35oz) a week and no more than 40g a month. The move comes four years after a law was passed which fully legalised the cannabis trade. Supporters of the law argue that it will help stop the illegal trade in marijuana and put drug dealers out of business.
Both contain 2% Tetrahidrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana. The price for five grams has been set at 187 Uruguayan pesos ($6.50; £5.00). The marijuana sold at the pharmacies comes from state-supervised fields. The law also allows users to grow their own at home or join co-operative clubs that farm it. Officials said about 70% of people who had registered to buy marijuana from pharmacies where men, most of them aged between 30 and 44. In order to avoid "marijuana tourism", only Uruguayan citizens and permanent residents are allowed to register. |